Respectable former Republicans have left their party, while others, who bear little resemblance to traditional conservatives, opportunistically attach themselves to the party.

Max Boot, a conservative who has left the Republican Party, reflects: “You used to belong to a conservative party with a white-nationalist fringe. Now it’s a white-nationalist party with a conservative fringe.” The party of the past was based on solid conservative values; it was not a home for anti-immigrant nativists or for “alternative facts” and conspiracy theories.

Alt-right hangers-on now run as Republicans, with encouragement from the head of the party.

Republicans who can no longer identify with their morphed party should form a new party that provides a sane home for rational conservatives. They would pull traditional conservatives away from the existing party (and might pick up some centrist Democrats). In the process of separating themselves from the alt-right, they would finally be able to “stop Trump,” which is exactly what they want to do.

Perhaps we need a third, centrist party that believes truth exists and values matter, and cares about preserving our institutions and getting things done.